Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-09-27
ALsAcE-LoRRAINE.
The DificuIties In the Way of GermaniE'
ing the Two Provinces.

4 y
by the large majorlties of which the
solid delegation of French-sympa-
thizing members We're sent to the
Reichstag in the election just past. IT
was something for the Paris newspapers
to gloat over. Even the women who
sell newspapers in the kiosks on the
boulevards churkled over the discom-
future Of Bismarck in beloved Alsace.
What minority who voted for the inn
perial candidate think, or what their
motives were, can only be known in
general way. Like many other Ger
mans. they probably supposed that the
election of delegates to the Reichstag
who favored the Septcnnate was n
gauge of the peace of Europe. What
another war would mean to Alsace,
with the hatred that the last generated,
they can well imagine. having still
vivid in their memories the lives lost.
the cities and towns devastated and the
fields laid waste. 1t was not TO he eS-
pected that at such time citizens OF
Strasbury would lay bare their hearts
to the fullest extent to u stranger. Yet
in various conversations that | have
had have been able to detect but one
strong undercurrent of sentiment, and
that was sympathy with and affection
for France. NV most implicit conf
dences were received on the roof 81 the
cathedral. Here is little world by
itself, made up of watchmcn whose
business ii was to signal the fires that
may break out in any part of the city,
and eare-takers, who also serve as
guides and attendants TO strangers.
They show the historical institutions,
point out the places of interest visible
from the roof, and mount the spire
with every one that comes. no one be-
ing permitted to ascend alone. Yet no
one yentured to say in so many words
that he wished TO see Alsace made again
part of the French domain. The
information was conveyed in hints
and inuendoes. and tones that meant
volumes. One said that he had per-
formed his military service in France.
he had taken the oath of allegiance to
the German Government and now he
did not really know what he was, One
expressed himself in one way and an
other in another. The elevation was
great, and yet there seemed sort OF
idea that the echoes might repeat the
condolences to the authorities on the
level of the earth far below. So after
ward in the cafes and in the innhouses
that visited There were smothered
words OF sympathy and hope fol
France. and though nothing abusive
/ was said of Germany, not phrase
I of commentator could be heard
any where. II there was censure il
was Of the septennate, criticisms oi
Bismarck. and only infcrentially could
it be interpreted as the preference
of the speaker for the country
which was the land of his nativity
and all his early associations. II
| had had confidential admission to
some sociaiistie circles | should prob
ably have heard good deal said more
openly. As X was, was convinced
that if it were possible for the question
to be decided by vote of the people
that il would be almost unanimous il
favor Of the old order of things under
the old rule; but this can not be. II
looks as il il could never be. The sug
gestion to make Alsace-Lorraine an in
dependent province like Switzerland
with its neutrality guaranteed by tn,
powers. that should act as a suffer
between France and Germany is a gooc
one If II was feasible. The two coun
tries have. no other cause for quarrel
There could then be only commercial
rivalry, in which France would be SURF
TO have the best chance. her good,
being SO superior to those of Germany
II something like this is not done ther,
must be y war, or these great and con
tinuaily increasing ornaments will END
in the financial ruin of both countries
-StraSbnrg Cor. San Francisco Chroa
tcle.
Very shortly after the death OF hi,
first wife, Scotch laird made arrange
ments for second marriage; and OF
asking his sen, well known author
to be present ON the occasion, the latter
replied that ''he was unable to attent
In consequence Of the recent death o.
his motlier"'